There are some things you should know to care for rabbits as pets. They take some work as all pets do, but mostly they need tender care. They can live from four to ten years old. They are gentle pets but can be a little distant. If you spend a lot of time with them they will respond more to you and answer to their name.
Remember their essential nature is cautious and fear based. When you bring them home they will need time to get used to the new environment. Let them roam about a little and sit on the floor so they can explore you as well. This way they can take their time getting to know you. Try not to touch them much at first. The environment shouldn’t be noisy either. After the first few days you can start introducing new sounds for them to get used to. The same for any other pets in your home.
When you pick up your pet do so at their neck and keep their feet tucked close to them and to your body. They will feel safer and you won’t get scratched. Also hold them as you would hold a baby. They will need to get used to you holding them in both positions. The baby position will allow you to later groom them. Their nails will need to be clipped.
Rabbits can be kept indoors or outdoors. If you keep them outside you will need a fence in the yard. This is to keep them inside and to keep predators outside. You will need to keep a careful watch as rabbits can dig themselves out under the fence. Keep the fence maintained as predators will smell them and attempt to gain access. When you are not with them they will need to be kept in a habitat or cage. The size should be five times the size of the rabbit. Put in hay for them to sleep upon.
When kept indoors they will still need a place just for them that is enclosed. A specially made habitat can be purchased for them. If you go with a cage, it will need a solid floor because the wire will hurt their paws. Before letting them out be sure the room has been rabbit proofed. All electrical sockets will need a socket guard. All the cords from the television, lamps, etc. Will need to be taped to the wall to keep them from nibbling them. The heat registers will need to be covered, if on the floor, as well.
Rabbits can be litter trained. It will take just a few weeks for them to get used to it. You will need to watch them carefully at first and each time they appear ready to relieve themselves take them to the litter box. To keep them from chewing the things you hold as valuable they will need chew toys, lots of them. Your pets will also enjoy pushing a ball around, if it makes noise even better. They are susceptible to fleas, mites and ticks. Colds can be a problem as well. Consult your vet on the best way to handle these.
One thing that is very important is to keep plenty of cool water available. Change it a few times a day to be sure it is clean. You can give it to them in a bowl but it should be made of metal or ceramic. Plastic can easily be gouged with their claws. These gauges will hold bacteria. It is preferable to use a sipper bottle. This way you avoid the lining or hay getting wet and moldy.
Your rabbits should be fed mainly pellets. Be consistent with the food they are fed as they do not like or adapt to change in diet well. Vegetables are necessary as well. Serve one to two cups of them for every five pounds of your rabbits weight. Clean them thoroughly to rid them of chemicals and pesticides. There should be three varieties of vegetables each day. Do not introduce more than one new vegetable a day. This will give them time to get used to it and you a chance to see how they respond to it.
Do not feed cauliflower as it causes gas and rabbits are unable to expel it. Avoid potatoes, corn and iceberg lettuce as well. Carrots should not be a part of their normal diet. They would be considered a treat. Usually a treat would be a piece of fruit and should not be given more than a couple times a day and they should be small. They should not have much because it will give them a sugar rush and they can want to eat that and nothing else. These are some of the basics for raising rabbits as pets. When you go to purchase yours be sure to ask as many questions as you can about your particular type of rabbit and their care.
If you are looking for more information on pet rabbits and cages then be sure to check out TW Bell’s site. TW Bell has been involved in rabbit business for 20 years. Stop by to see our multi level cages to see if they will fit in your home.
categories: pet rabbits,rabbits,rabbit cages,rabbit supplies,pets,small animals,small animal cages,pets,pet supplies,supplies,home
Related posts:
- Raise Meat Rabbits For Fun & Profit Raising meat rabbits can be a very rewarding experience for the novice or veteran rabbit breeder. Rabbits that, if raised properly can be a profitable hobby or business....
- Rabbits good house pets? Rabbits are becoming a very popular option for people who look for smaller animals to keep inside. Traditionally rabbits were kept in the garden in a hutch; however, people who have no gardens can still have a rabbits. These fantastic pets are extremely sociable, loving animals that thrive off human affection. If you research well and understand how to keep them inside, they will be very happy....
- Rabbits; an Exotic Animal that Could Benefit from Health Insurance that Insures Pet Medical Needs Rabbits have this oozing appeal that makes them a favorite pet among pet lovers. The manner where they provide companionship, being playful, appealing to the eyes for watching, and being very sociable are some of the characteristics why people get rabbits to be their pets. With their smallness and cat-feel likeness, they tend to be associated with the cats, but unlike their feline counterparts, they exhibit friendliness compared with the aloofness of cats. Rabbits need to have a daily time allotment for socialization since rabbits tend to be depressed if they do not get enough attention. Rabbits are easy to...
- Pet Insurance For Rabbits Protection companies are offering a wide variety of deals to meet the should of pet rabbit proprietors in the UK. Rabbits, our third most famous pet, are loved members of the family who are due to the ideal possible care. With rising fees, owners are seeking pet rabbit protection to help include veterinary and various expenses. dierenverzekering...
- Save What You Need on Caring for Your Pets There are many ways to save money on pets supplies as long as consumers plan their shopping trip to maximize their savings. The first way people can spend less on their pets is by using manufacturer's coupons or store coupons. In addition, consumers can save money by looking for store deals every week in the circulars. Pet owners should also compare prices of pet foods within one store as well as compare prices among several different stores....